Explore USC Review

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>I did a lot of digging to try and see what Explore USC was going to be like before I went. There weren't many clear answers so I thought I'd create this thread so that those people who have just completed the Trustee sessions can give advice to the March Presidentials.</p>

<p>So Explore USC was exactly what it was supposed to be for me: a chance to explore the campus and the programs. I arrived with my mother at 9:00am, but they didn't have any official programming until 2:30pm. That was a bit off-putting, as we had to fill 5 hours with some mindless wandering and bookstore shopping. We attended some optional programming including an information session on USC's Thematic option (which I highly suggest going to; the program sounds like a fantastic alternative to standard general ed.) </p>

<p>The welcome ceremony happens at 2:30. The Dean speaks, the band plays (Bruno Mars ;). They dismissed us to meet with our specific schools. Being a Film Production Major, I was the only attendant. There were to Screenwriting girls, one in animation, and one in interactive media. So 5 Cinematic Arts kids in total invited for Trustee. I would guess that'll double for Presidential. Viterbi seemed to have as many Trustee candidates as Dornsife, and they both took up at least six tables each at the closing banquet. </p>

<p>Each department held a student panel, and Cinematic Arts gave out several goodies (folders, tshirts, backpacks) that the other schools didn't. After the panel, we are handed over to our host. After my host took me to a very awkwardly silent dinner and dropped my stuff off in the dorm, the rest of the evening was mine because she had to go to a meeting. I had four hours to blend in as a college student. It was very fun :)</p>

<p>I suggest hitting up Ground Zero. The shakes are off the charts (but cost an arm and a leg, as does everything else at USC). There was a band playing when I went in with some other candidates. The brochure said "Come and enjoy an Afro-Latin jazz performance". I was more than a little disappoint to see it was five white students playing. Still, the music was good and I enjoyed it. (Play that funky music, white boy! :)</p>

<p>Later that night we went across the street to the Galen center to watch the basketball game against Oregon State. When that got boring we chilled as a group in Birnkrant.</p>

<p>About the dorms: Birnkrant is the place to be! My host stayed in Fluour Tower. It is suite style, but no where near as nice or newly renovated as Birnkrant. The triple-room is the most desirable on campus, but even the double is spacious (we fit a good 15 people inside). The entire building is clean and beautiful. Truly 8 floors of open doors. </p>

<p>The entire program was much less structured than I thought it would be, but that's okay. College itself is only as structured as you make it. All the free time they gave us Explore kids is as close to reality as it gets. </p>

<p>My interview was schedule for 11:00am, so I was among the fortunate students who got to sleep in until around 8:30, get up slowly, take a shower, get ready at my own pace, and still have time to get breakfast and review my application materials. Some other kids were assigned 9:00am spots. Brutal when everyone wants to stay up past midnight. </p>

<p>I got to my interview 20 mins early. I recommend everyone try to! I did a fair amount of wandering around the massive cinema school to find my room. While doing so, I actually bumped into my interviewer! We shook hands, he gave me his name and asked me to wait outside in the waiting room until it was time. I immediately sat down and looked up the man's biography and recent work. If you get the opportunity to research your interview, do it. It makes for great conversation. </p>

<p>They told me the interview would feel more like a conversation…..it felt like an interview. REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION. All of the questions were based on it. They asked me about some of my directing choices in my visual sample, asked me about the philosophy behind my dialogue between two people, and of course about my personal statement. It was hard to keep in mind that I'd already been accepted. I felt like I had to sell myself to them. I really hope I made a good pitch and didn't look as nervous as a felt. Almost a quarter of a million dollars rides on one interview. My hands were shaking….just a little though (LOL). </p>

<p>They said the interview would go for 20-30 mins. I got in at 10:50 and left at 11:32, so I going to take that as a good sign. </p>

<p>I went back to Birnkrant to grab my luggage, headed to Town & Gown for the closing banquet, and my mother and I were on our way just like that. </p>

<p>So Presidential Candidates, take a deep breath and get ready for a very informational, very tiring,, but extremely enlightening two days. And remember, THEY ALREADY LIKE YOU! And it's because you're all amazing :)</p>

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<p>Thanks for the review. I’ll let my daughter read your post before her trip.</p>

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<p>Just to clarify - on the first day, the check-in is scheduled to start at 10:00. There were organized activities before 2:30 in the form of a very detailed walking tour (great tour guides per all parents, close to an hour) and a guided 30 minute bus tour of the areas surrounding campus. Our walking tour guide was the best we have had for either of our two kids. These tours plus lunch at the student union ate up the time before the welcome speech and should not be missed by other visitors.</p>

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<p>My son and I did tours of both the whole campus and Viterbi when we were there, as well as the admissions and financial aid “info session”. Our campus tour guide was wonderful! She was so nice and genuine that she really helped create a good impression of the school for us. We toured 8 schools in 9 days, and she was by far the best guide of all. I don’t know if it is standard practice, but she even wrote my son a handwritten thank you after the tour, and that, along with all of our other contacts with USC (online, correspondence, etc.), have created an impression that the school is just, overall, a ‘class act’.</p>

<p>Before we visited, S hadn’t even really considered applying. Didn’t think (from afar) that he’d like a school in the middle of LA; we really knew very little about USC. It is now his #1 (and mine too, if I were to get to choose). He probably won’t get in, but believe me, you will all hear our whoops and hollers all the way from Hawaii if he does. Just one month to go…</p>

<p>OK, now I should get out of this thread, which is for all you Trustee and Presidential hopefuls. I wish you all the best of luck!</p>

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<p>I have to jump in and say that last year when my daughter and I attended Explore for the Presidential interview, we were blown away with how awesome it was. We went to most of the events offered which kept us so busy. There was the welcome reception, campus tour, bus tour of the neighborhood, thematic option meeting, housing and food service, financial aid, Dornsife info (each school breaks out for these), delicious and beautiful luncheon and dinner with admissions and faculty, an amazing welcome in Bovard Auditorium that brought us to tears, student panels…it was very structured with little downtime. The student’s experience with the overnight host would definitely depend on who they were assigned, and it is a busy time for these students right now, so that’s hard to predict. The outcome for us was amazing as my daughter is a very happy freshman on a Trustee scholarship and enjoying every minute of life as a Trojan.</p>

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<p>@scoolmom
So your daughter was a Presidential finalist but was bumped to Trustee? </p>

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<p>Yes @2018dad</p>

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<p>Thanks @scoolmom. And good job to your D. We are hoping that my daughter will get bump to Trustee as well. I know it’s rare but one can hope. </p>

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<p>How common is it for a Trustee to get bumped down??</p>

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<p>I know we (including me) often use the terms “bumped up” and “bumped down” when talking about scholarship awards, but it is very important to remember that an invitation to interview as a scholarship candidate does NOT mean that a scholarship has been awarded, just that an individual is being considered. Therefore technically there isn’t actually a “change” in the scholarship being awarded, just notification of your scholarship award.</p>

<p>What we CAN tell you is that we have not seen posts from anyone saying that they were not awarded at least a $4,000/year scholarship after being invited to interview and attending the interview. YES, some who interview for the Trustee, Stamps, Mork or Presidential WILL receive a smaller award and YES, we have seem posts from wonderful candidates who interviewed for the Trustee, felt they had a very good interview, and came away with a $4,000/ director’s scholarship. Do not make assumptions beyond the $4,000/year to avoid disappointment.</p>

<p>It is hard to pinpoint how common it is to receive a smaller scholarship than for which the candidate interviewed, because people are far more likely to post good news than bad. </p>

<p>Good luck to all.</p>

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<p>@alamemom, True and agree with what you say. Though a NMF interviewing for Presidential is perhaps one of the few candidates who knows that he/she is guaranteed the half tuition. </p>

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@scoolmom‌ i know this is a very old thread but I would REALLY appreciate if you could explain how your daughter was able to get that.
I’m an international student currently shortlisted for a Presidential scholarship & being my number #1 choice i really am trying to find the means to attend. The half tuition would mean i’d still have a huge debt to take out. So a Trustee scholarship would be amazing.
Thanks!!!

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I read an article from USC that mentioned that after your interview It is a few years old but will give you an idea.
http://dailytrojan.com/2010/02/03/5-5-percent-of-applicants-selected-as-scholarship-finalists/

“The awards are not guaranteed, however, and much hinges on the interview. Trustee finalists could instead be given the Presidential scholarship and Presidential finalists could earn the Trustee.”

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Here’s a tip for ExploreUSC. The first morning is reserved for registration and campus tours. There are walking tours of campus as well as a bus tour that goes around the perimeter of campus. My daughter and I did the bus tour twice because each time there was a different tour guide. The first time the tour was led by a student, the second tour was led by an admissions counselor. Each tour was slightly different and we heard different stories about the campus.

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Went to Explore USC Session 3 and D is ready to register. It was a great program, with a lot of interaction with admission counselors from her college and the admissions department. We explored campus since it will be the only chance to visit before she makes her decision. Buildings are beautifully maintained and the landscaping is gorgeous. Waiting to find out if she will be a scholarship recipient is going to be interminable for both of us. USC is her #1 choice and she can only afford to go if she gets the Presidential. Best of luck to all who can’t wait to be Trojan’s!!